September 2026 New Hampshire Housing Report

What’s Happening in the Market?

• The national September housing market activity remained near its slowest pace of the year as mortgage rates climbed above 7% and continued to weigh on affordability.  

• In New England, limited inventory continued to support prices. The Northeast again posted the strongest price growth in the country, with the median price up 4.7% year-over-year to $523,600. Sales fell 2.1% from August and 4.1% from a year ago as higher rates kept buyers on the sidelines. 

• Sales in the South rose 2.8% from August and were nearly flat compared to last year, down 0.5%. The median price held essentially steady, up 0.2% to $361,000. Condo sales fell 2.8% nationally for the month and 5.4% from a year ago, though condo prices still edged up 1.2% year-over-year. 

• Nationally, existing home sales rose 1.5% from August but fell 2.2% from a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors. Inventory climbed to 1.60 million homes, up 4.6% from last year, and homes spent a median of 33 days on market. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun noted,  

“Despite the small monthly gain on a seasonally adjusted basis, August and September marked the two slowest months for home sales this year. Further increases in mortgage rates in recent weeks mean fewer buyers can qualify to purchase a home. Higher inventory and lengthening days on market give buyers improved negotiating power. Home sellers need to be realistic about local market conditions, which could require price discounts and other incentives to attract buyers.”

• “Pending sales… were down 8.4% year-over-year for the month of September. Inventory is continuing to build and is up 4.4% compared to the same period a year ago, but not because new listings are coming online – homes are simply staying on the market longer,” according to RealEstateNews.com. 

• According to Mortgage News Daily, 30-year mortgage rates reached approximately 7.60% at the end of September, their highest level in more than a year. Rates have stayed in the mid-7% range through October, with no sign of near-term relief. 

• The Fannie Mae October Housing Forecast expects 30-year rates to average about 7.4% for the rest of 2026 and hold near 7.5% through 2027. 

• If your home is on the market, but you haven’t received much interest, then it’s definitely time to consider lowering your price! This fall has brought on the highest inventory of homes for sale across the country that we have seen in years.  This means every home seller has more homes to compete with, and pricing is the best way to make the home stand out. 

• As costs everywhere have risen over the last several years, so have home insurance premiums. This has been putting on strain on homeowners’ and buyers budgets. There are, however, strategies to lower these costs. 

• For many first-time buyers, the thought of purchasing a home can bring up plenty of fears. Despite the many benefits of homeownership, worries about finding the right home, navigating your finances, making an offer, and getting through closing day can quickly start to feel like a home-buying horror story. But don’t let those fears haunt you.